Gravity-type rolling ball game device



April 15, 1969 H. L. 'rHoMAs GRAVITY-TYPE ROLLING BALL GAME DEVICE ofSsheet Filed April 17, 1967 April 15, 1969 H. l.. THOMAS A GRAVITY-TYPEROLLING BALL GAME DEVICE Sheet 3 of El Filed April 17, 1967 N NL mm, m..5i mw `m \m \m a KU Naw n.4.. C C C. 7&1. I alli? -MT5 w 1,-- 1T@ m. N+M+ v m mmmm Mmmm/m f @t a V w VL w L mv ffm@ April 15, 1969 H. l..THOMAS GRAVITY-TYPE ROLLING BALL GAME DEVICE 3 ors Sheet Filed April 17,1967 FIGB.

United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 273-120 9 'Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A game for two contestants includes a game board having aslot in it defining a track. A ball is propelled into the slot bytraveling back and forth along a plurality of inclined runways and thendown an inclined chute into the slot. Part of the ball projects out ofthe slot. Two trap members located on opposite sides of the slot areindependently operated by each of two players. The trap members eachinclude a series of apertures or openings positionable above the slot toallow free movement of the ball in the slot and are operable fortrapping the ball in one of the openings as it travels along the slot.Each opening is marked with either positive or negative scoring indicia.As the ball travels along the slot between the trap members, each playertries to be first in trapping the ball in the opening in his trap memberhaving the highest scoring indicia associated therewith. The contestantwho iirst reaches a predetermined positive score or forces his opponentto accumulate a perdetermined negative score is the winner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is in the field ofgames and more particularly in the field of games designed to test theskill and coordination of the contestants.

SUMMARY F THE INVENTION Among the several objects of the invention maybe noted the provision of a game which is adapted to improve thecoordination and skill of a player by rewarding the players speed andaccuracy in responding to movement of a game member; and the provisionof such a game which is simple in construction, economical to produceand interesting to play. Other objects and features will be in partapparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

A game of the invention comprises a playing board which has a track anda game member which moves along the track between two directly oppositetrap members on the game board at opposite sides of the track. Each ofthe game members has at least one opening therein large enough to trapthe game member and stop its movement along the track. Each trap memberis mounted for movement between a rst position wherein its opening isspaced from the track a suiiicient distance to permit uninterruptedtravel of the game member along the track and a second position whereinits opening is directly over the track for trapping the game member andpreventing further movement thereof along the track. Separate latchmeans independently hold each of the trap members in their rst postion.The trap members are biased toward their second position from theirfirst position so that when the latch means is released, the trapmembers move to their second position. Means are provided for propellingthe game member along the portion of the track between the trap members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a plan view of a game of theinvention;

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FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the game of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an end View from the right end of FIG. 1 with one of the trapmembers shown in a moved position.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A game of the inventiongenerally designated 1 comprises a generally rectangular game boardhaving an upper face 3 and a lower face 5. A plurality of resilientcushions or feet 7 are fastened to the lower face 5 near the corners ofthe board and are adapted to engage the upper surface of a table or thelike supporting the board. An elongate slot 9 in the upper face 3 of thegame board extends substantially the entire length of the board andforms a track which receives a ball 11 constituting a game playingmember. The diameter of the ball is greater than the depth of the slotso that part of the ball projects above surface 3 as shown in FIG. 2.The slot is closed at one end by a bracket 13 secured to the end of thegame board and by a resilient recoil button 15 carried by bracket 13 andpositioned in the slot 9.

Two trap members 17a and 17b are located on the upper surface 3 of theboard directly opposite each other and at opposite sides of slot 9.Since the trap members are identical to each other except for a reversalof the numerical scoring indicia thereon, the same reference numeralshave been used to indicate the same parts of each member. Each trapmember comprises a lower plate 19 which is secured to face 3 of the gameboard and an upper plate 21. The lower and upper plates each have twoend iianges shown at 23 and 25, respectively, positioned side-by-side. Ashaft 27 extends through all four of the flanges 23 and 25 thereby topivotally mount the upper plate on the lower plate. The shafts 27 ofboth trap members are substantially parallel to the length of slot 9 andare spaced therefrom so that both upper plates pivot about axesgenerally parallel to the length of the slot. Each upper plate has awider portion generally designated 29 and it contains a plurality ofholes or openings 31 spaced from each other in a line along the outeredge of the plate. Holes 31 are larger than ball 11.

Referring to FIG. 3, the plates 21 are movable about the axis of shaft27 between lirst and second positions. In the rst or raised position, asshown by the plate at the right in FIG. 3, the openings 31 are above theslot 9 a sufficient distance to permit travel of the game member 11along the slot without interference from the plate. In their second orlowered position, as shown by the plate 21 at the left in FIG. 3, thepart 29 of the plate 21 contacts board surface 3 and the openings 31 ofthe plate are directly over the slot 9. Thus, the outer portions of thetraps overlap when both traps are in their second position. The ball canbe trapped within holes 31 as the plates move to their second position,thereby preventing further movement of the ball.

The part 29 of each trap member preferably has numerical indiciadesignated 33 beside each hole 31 for the purpose of assigning a scoringvalue to each hole 31. In the drawings the holes are marked with valuesranging from minus 3 to minus 1 and from plus 4 to plus 2, but it willbe understood that other suitable scoring values could be employed. Itwill also be noted that the portion of the slot to the left of the trapmembers as viewed in FIG. l may be designated minus 4 and the portion ofthe slot to the right of the trap members may be designated plus l. Thisarrangement of scoring values rewards the player with the greatestcoordination and penalizes the player who prematurely operates his trapmember.

Each upper plate 21 is biased from its first position (shown at theright in FIG. 3) toward its second position by a torsion spring 35wrapped around the respective shaft 27 and having end portions 37 and 39bearing against the lower plate and upper plate, respectively. The parts29 of plate 21 are held in their raised positions above slot 9 byconventional latches 41 each of which comprises a base 43 fixed tosurface 3 of the game board and a pivot 44 which supports a latch-member 45. One end of each latch member normally engages the top of itsrespective plate 21 near the edge thereof opposite the wider part 29 ofthe plate to hold the plate in its raised position. Latch member 45 isbiased into engagement with the plate 21 by a spring (not shown). Bydepressing the end 47 of a latch member against its spring the member israised up otf its respective plate 21 to allow swinging movement of theplate about the axis of shaft 27, thereby allowing plate part 29 toswing down against surface 3 with the holes 31 over portions of the slot9. The plates 21 are returned to their latched positions by pressingdown on end 47 of latch members 45, then depressing the smaller end ofthe plate 21 against the biasing force of springs 35 and releasingmembers 45 when the plates are under the latch.

Structure for propelling the ball 11 from left to right in slot 9 isgenerally designated 51. The propelling means comprises a pair of spacedgenerally parallel side walls 53 and 55 having rectangular upperportions which confine a plurality of vertically spaced runways 57a,57h, 57C and 57d. An end wall 59 between the side walls 53 and 55engages the upper end of the runways 57b and 57d. The upper ones of therunways have their lower ends positioned above and offset from the nextlower runways so that a ball can roll off one runway onto the next lowerone. Another end wall 61 between the side walls engages the upper end ofthe runways 57a and 57e. Wall 59 is spaced from the lower end of runways57a and 57C and the wall 61 is spaced from the lower end of runways 57band 57d. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the end wall 61 has acurved surface 63 which begins adjacent the lower end of the runway 57dand merges smoothly into the bottom of slot 9. The lower portion of theside walls 53 and 55 together with surface 63 form a curved chute whichguides delivery of the ball into slot 9. Walls 53 and 55 are secured toa neck 64 on the game board to support the propelling structure on thegame board.

The top of the propelling structure may be partially closed by a cover65, the cover being spaced from wall 61 to form a hole 67 through whichthe ball 11 can be dropped onto the upper end of the runway 57a. Theball then rolls along the inclined runway 57a, drops off the lower endthereof onto the upper end of the runway 57b and rolls along the runway57b until it drops off the lower end thereof onto runway 57o. This backand forth movement continues until the ball drops o the lower end ofrunway 57d and engages and rolls along the surface 63 into slot 9. Thepropelling structure 51 may be covered or formed from a nontransparentmaterial so that the players cannot anticipate the exact time ofdelivery of the ball to slot 9, or if desired, the structure 51 may beleft uncovered to allow the contestants to observe movement of the balltherethrough.

In order to maintain a cumulative score for each player, the game boardhas a plurality of holes or openings 71 at each side of the slot 9. Ascoring peg 73 is provided for each player and it can be placed in anyof the holes 71 to mark that players score during the course of thegame. The various holes 71 are marked with numerical indica 75 which asshown in FIG. l, may run from minus 10 through zero to plus 10. However,it will be understood that other indicia may be used, as previouslyindicated. Also, it will be understood that the game board may haveimprinted or inscribed thereon a simulated football or baseball field orthe like with appropriate indicia for scoring a simulated football,baseball or other game in the conventional manner.

In playing the game, two contestants or players take places at oppositesides of the board. Both of the trap members 17a and 17b are moved totheir raised positions wherein the latch members 41 are engaging theupper surfaces of plates 21 and wherein the parts 29 are elevated sothat they do not interfere with free movement of the ball 11 along slot9. Ball 11 is then dropped onto the inclined runway 57a. The ball rollsback and forth along the upper surfaces of the various runways and nallydrops onto surface 63. The ball is accelerated as it travels alongsurface 63 and it is propelled into slot 9 toward the trap members. Asthe ball travels between the trap members the players depress the end 47of their respective latches to release the upper plates 21 and allow thespring 35 to swing them from the normal raised position shown at theright in FIG. 3 to a lowered position shown at the left in FIG. 3. Theobject of the game is to trap the ball 11 within the hole 31 designatedwith the highest numerical indicia, that is, the third hole from theright as viewed in FIG. 1 for the particular arrangement of numericalindicia shown. The ball 11 can be trapped as it moves from left to rightas viewed in FIG. l or, for an interesting variation, the players canagree to allow the ball 11 to travel the entire length of the slot,engage the recoil button 15, and then rebound along the slot 9 betweenthe trap members before the traps are sprung to trap the ball. Thislatter variation may be particularly desirable when very young childrenare playing the game since their reaction time is somewhat slower thanolder children and adults.

The player whose trap member swings downwardly first is awarded a scoreaccording to the markings or indicia 33 on part 29 of the trap which areassociated with the hole within which the ball has been trapped. Heremoves the peg 73 from its zero or start position and inserts it intothe hole marked with the appropriate indicia 75. For example, during thefirst play, one player may receive a score of plus four by trapping theball within the confines of the hole 31 which is third from right asviewed in FIG. 1. During a subsequent play, if the ball is trapped inany of the three holes 31 to the left of the plus 4 hole, then thisscore is deducted from his total score and the peg 73 is accordinglymoved to a lower numbered hole. Ties are not possible since the portion29 of one of the traps is always beneath the corresponding parts of theother players trap. This also avoids scoring disputes.

When one player reaches a predetermined score, such as plus 10, or whenthe other player reaches a predetermined lower score, such as minus l0,the game is at an end. The winning score has been designated graduateand the losing score designated wash-out in FIG. 1. However, it will beunderstood that other designations can be used if desired.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. A game comprising,

a playing board having a track therealong,

a game member movable along the track,

two directly opposite trap members on the game board at opposite sidesof the track, each of said members having at least one opening thereinlarge enough to trap the game member and stop its movement along thetrack, each trap member being mounted for movement between a firstposition wherein its opening is spaced from the track a sufiicientdistance to permit uninterrupted travel of the game member along thetrack and a second position wherein its opening is directly over thetrack for trapping the game member in said opening and thereby preventfurther movement of the game member along the track,

seperate latch means for independently holding each of the trap membersin their rst position,

means biasing the trap members from their rst position to their secondposition so that when the latch means is released the trap members moveto their second position,

and means for propelling the game member along the track between thetrap members.

2. A game according to claim 1 wherein the propelling means comprises aninclined chute at one end of the track for receiving the game member andpropelling it along the track.

3. A game according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of flatrunways coniined between a pair of spaced walls, the runways beingvertically spaced from each other and being inclined downwardly from oneend to the other end thereof with each of the upper runways having itslower end positioned above and offset from the upper end of the nextlower runway so that the' game member can be dropped on the upper runwayand rolled along successive runways dropping from the lower end of oneonto the upper end of the other, and the lower end of the lowermostrunway being positioned to drop the game member into the chute fordelivery to the track.

4. A game according to claim 1 further comprising means on the gameboard for scoring the game, said means comprising a plurality of holesand a scoring member positionable in the holes.

5. A game according to claim 1 wherein the propelling means is at oneend of the track, the game further comprising resilient means at theother end of the track engageable by the game member for reversingmovement of the game member on the track.

6. A game comprising,

a playing board having an elongated slot in the upper face thereofforming a track,

a ball movable along the slot, the diameter of the ball being greaterthan the depth of the slot whereby part of the ball projects above theupper face of the board,

two directly opposite trap members on the game board at opposite sidesof the slot, each of said members having a plurality of openings thereineach of which is large enough to receive the ball and stop its movementalong the slot, each trap member being pivotally mounted on the boardfor movement between a first position wherein its openings are spacedfrom the upper face of the board a sufficient distance to permituninterrupted travel of the ball in the `slot and a second positionwherein part of the trap member abuts the upper face of the board andsaid openings are directly over the slot for trapping the ball andpreventing further movement thereof along the slot,

scoring indicia adjacent each opening in each trap member,

separate latch means for independently holding each of the trap membersin its first position,

a spring with each trap member biasing the trap members from their firstposition to their second position so that when the latch means isreleased the trap members each move to their second position,

and an inclined chute at one end of the slot for propelling the ballalong the slot between the trap members.

7. A game according to claim 6 further comprising a plurality of atrunways above the chute, the runways be ing vertically spaced from eachother and being inclined `downwardly from one end to the other endthereof with each of the upper runways having its lower end positionedabove and offset from the upper end :of the next lower runway, thelowermost runway -having its lower end positioned immediately above theentrance to the chute whereby the ball can be dropped onto the upperrunway and roll along successive runways dropping from the lower end ofone runway onto the upper end of another and finally into the chute fordelivery to the slot.

8. A game according to claim 7 further comprising a plurality of scoringholes in the upper surface of the game board at opposite sides of theslot, and a pair of scoring pegs positionable in each of said scoringholes for recording scores made by each of two players.

9. A game according to claim 8 further comprising a resilient button atthe end of the slot opposite from the chute, the ball being engageablewith the button for reversing movement of the ball in the slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 611,868 10/1898 Pycroft 273-120878,810 2/ 1908 Letzkus. 2,522,133 9/ 1950 Sanders 46-43 RICHARD C.PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. PAUL E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 46-43

